O'Neill on salvage mission

By Christopher Davies in Seville

12:01AM BST 23 May 2003

Flaherty's bar in Seville sold two months' worth of beer in four days but while Celtic fans drowned their sorrows after the 3-2 extra-time defeat by Porto in the UEFA Cup final, Martin O'Neill set about raising his players' spirits for Sunday's decisive league game at Kilmarnock.

O'Neill has made a habit of succeeding against the odds and inspiring players to reach heights that seemed insurmountable. He will need all his man-management and inspirational skills to prepare his team for the game at Kilmarnock as Scotland braces itself for a photo-finish to a season that could produce an Old Firm winner-takes-all play-off for the title.

Celtic's dream of European glory ended with Derlei's goal five minutes before the end of extra time in Wednesday's final, which started slowly and reached a nail-biting climax.

Professionals say they forget about the last game and look to the next match but when you have lost a European final in such circumstances, that is easier said than done. "There is a deep sense of disappointment," said the normally upbeat O'Neill. "Alan Thompson was inconsolable."

As Celtic made their weary way home yesterday, Henrik Larsson, the scorer of both Celtic goals, said: "We have just lost one of the biggest games you can play as a professional footballer. There is no joy at the moment."

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Celtic did everything that could reasonably have been expected from them, with Larsson twice equalising goals by Derlei and Dmitri Alenichev, but the class of Deco in midfield gave the Portuguese champions the edge in skill, if not sportsmanship. "It was an absolutely world-class performance by Henrik," said O'Neill. "But he's a world-class player."

O'Neill today will begin the task of lifting the morale of his squad after the physical and mental demands of Seville. Rugby Park may not have the glamour and romance of the Estadio Olimpico but with the Scottish title on the line - Rangers, who entertain Dunfermline, hold a one-goal advantage with the teams tied on points and goal difference - O'Neill hopes the loss in the UEFA Cup final can inspire Celtic to a winning finale in the league.

"It has been a totally unforgettable experience," he said. "Great managers and great judges of the game will tell you that you need to have this sort of European experience before you take it on a further step. It's been hard work yet rewarding. You should get what you deserve and I thought we deserved more."

At least Celtic are unlikely to face the sort of play-acting and time-wasting at Kilmarnock that Porto displayed.

Though both teams had players sent off for second cautionable offences - Bobo Balde and Nuno Valente were the culprits - Porto used every trick in the book to gain an advantage.

"I wasn't pleased," said O'Neill. "They are very talented footballers but you saw the reception they had from our supporters when they collected their medals. Celtic fans are as fair-minded as there are and you saw their reaction."

Jose Mourinho, the Porto coach, saw things differently. "There was a lot of commitment in Celtic's game - commitment, toughness and aggression," he said. "I'm tempted to use another word but I won't."

O'Neill would never doubt the passion or commitment of his players but Sunday will in many ways be their biggest test psychologically of a memorable season. "We'll be OK," said O'Neill, and given his record few would doubt him.

Porto will pay for the funeral of a teenage fan who drowned after travelling to Seville to watch the game against Celtic, said club president Jorge Pinto da Costa. Nuno Azevedo, 17, drowned after going for a swim in the Guadalquivir River on Tuesday with two friends.